Sunday I posted a request for help responding to an Orlando Sentinel
reader survey (or Sound Off as they call it) answering the question:
"Should there be a state amendment to protect gays from discrimination?"
Here's the article summarizing the result:
MOST CALLERS WANT STATE AMENDMENT TO PROTECT GAYS FROM DISCRIMINATION
The Orlando Sentinel, October 19, 1993
Gays deserve special protection under the state constitution, a majority
of Sound Off callers believe.
Gay rights has become a hot-button issue across the country. In Florida,
two groups are hoping to get their proposed constitutional amendments on
the 1994 ballot. One proposal would prohibit state and local governments
from approving any measures to protect gays. The other measure would ban
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
This week's Sound Off focused on the question, "Should there be a state
amendment to protect gays from discrimination?" Of the 7,166 calls from
Sunday through noon Monday, 3,926 [55%] were on the yes side and 3,240
[45%] on the no side.
In spot interviews, many callers who said they supported a gay rights
amendment followed John Rose's line of thinking. "I don't believe that
discrimination against any minority group is right. ... It's dead wrong!"
said the 52-year-old Orlando resident.
As Holly Ramsey, 20, of Orlando noted, "Some people don't believe in the
Constitution. They don't think anyone who is homosexual is a human being."
Greg Triggs [4737 Emerald Forest Way #1807, Orlando, FL 32811, 407-649-
9295] expanded on those thoughts: "First, the Constitution doesn't allow
for moralizing." The 30-year-old Orlando man added, "Second, homosexuals
are discriminated against and therefore need protection."
Or as Charles Hogan said, "Gays and lesbians are the last minority. The
50-year-old Orlando resident said he was tired of reading all the "lunacy"
from the "far right." His bottom line: "We need to do away with hatred."
One caller, who said he was gay but believed his employees would suffer
if his name was given, was concerned about workplace discrmination. "I
don't ask people what they do [in their private lives]. As long as they
are qualified, that's all I care about."
Many readers on the other side -- those who are against a gay rights
amendment -- brought up questions of morality.
Linda Cadwallader [5436 Grand Ave., Winter Park, FL 32792, 407-678-8163],
49, of Winter Park, who voted an emphatic no, said, "They are people who
chose the way they are. Our country is going down the tubes because of
problems with morality. ... I think of America and what we had and what
we were, and it saddens me. Today it's all sex and rights. Now everyone's
an individual. We used to fight for rights for everyone. And that's why I
don't think these people are an endangered species."
Or as Robert Ehlenfield [424 Barry St., Orlando, FL 32808, 407-291-1054],
63, of Orlando put it: "They don't deserve anything. It's illegal."
Some callers, such as Frances Boyd [1752 W. CHeryl Dr., Winter Park, FL
32792, 407-657-2814], 73, cited a specific source for their viewpoint. "I
got my answer from the Bible," said the Winter Park resident. "They [gays]
are immoral. God says they are an abomination. Do you know about Sodom and
Gomorrah?"
Orlandoan Charles Sims [30 Croton Dr., Orlando, FL 32807, 407-277-0741],
72, said of homosexuality, "It's not a lifestyle that's approved by the
majority of people. It's a sin in the Bible."
A few "no" voters said they didn't see the need for further constitutional
protections. "We should all be protected; we already have the laws to do
that," said Charles T. Rogers [1137 Oropesa Ave., Orlando, FL 32807, 407-
275-1920], 68, of Orlando. "If they want to do this, let them do this in
private and not bring it out in the open all the time."
--
Doug Swallow | 7927 Clubhouse Estates Dr. /\ "Hate is not
doug@montage.oau.org | Orlando, Florida 32819-5026 / \ a family
| 407-236-0153 (407-352-3111 fax) /____\ value."
--- IBM OS/2 2.1 --- |---------------------------------------------------------
| Plan ahead: Gay/Lesbian Day at Disney (FL), 4 June 1994.